EEOC commissioner Ishimaru resigns

By Amanda Palleschi

April 12, 2012

Stuart J. Ishimaru, a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will resign at the end of April, according to a statement from the EEOC.

Ishimaru was nominated to the commission by President George W. Bush in 2003 and is currently serving a second term, which expires July 1. He also served as EEOC acting chairman from January 2009 until April 7, 2010.

During that time, he is credited with working to rebuild the commission, “which had become underfunded and understaffed,” the commission said in a statement.

“He dedicated substantial agency resources to a multi-million dollar training effort -- the largest the agency had conducted in at least a decade -- to equip EEOC employees with essential skills and knowledge they need to investigate and litigate large and complex discrimination (systemic) cases to bring about positive change in entire companies and industries,” EEOC added.

Ishimaru is credited with being the first administration official to testify before Congress in support of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. He also spearheaded a public commission focusing on age discrimination.

“His accomplishments as a member of the commission and acting chairman have been exceptional,” EEOC Chair Jacqueline Berrien said in a statement. “He has been a tremendous colleague, and we will miss his fervent commitment to civil rights law enforcement and myriad contributions to the work of the commission.”